Army Spc. Luis D. Santos

On his MySpace.com page, Luis D. Santos wrote about the Iraqis' chilly reception to American soldiers, and apprehension about his safety to optimistic musings about his family and future.

"I want to go home to mom cause I know how much she misses me. I can't wait to hug mama. Oh well, got to keep on keeping on," he wrote in May. "My family are my heroes."

Santos, 20, of Rialto, Calif., died June 8 in Buritz when an explosive detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to Fort Carson.

"He wanted to make us proud and he did," said his mother, Irma Santos. "He wanted to experience something more and serve his country and become more mature as a person."

Santos enjoyed watching anime on the Cartoon Network and reruns of "The Andy Griffith Show." A 2004 high school graduate, he was on the track team and was engaged to be married to his high school sweetheart, Vanessa.

"When asked why he joined the Army, he didn't say for the college money, or 'I needed a job or I wanted to see the world,'" said Spc. Anthony Chicoine. "He said, 'because it's something I believe in' and that is what makes a hero."

He also is survived by his father, Carlos.

Army Spc. Channing G. Singletary

As a boy, Channing G. Singletary would sit at his grandfather's feet, peppering him with questions about life in the military.

"His grandfather was his inspiration, telling him stories of how he got to see things the rest of us only read about," said his father, Gary.

Singletary, 30, of Sylvester, Ga., died June 23 in Baghdad from a non-combat-related cause. He was assigned to Savannah.

Singletary graduated from high school and moved to Athens. Soon after, he joined the Army National Guard as a recruiter. But when the war in Iraq broke out, he wanted to see combat.

Gary Singletary, who is a Vietnam veteran, recalled telling his son that "this war's nothing like any of the previous wars."

"He was fully aware of that," his father said. "He just felt it was his patriotic duty. He said it was something he had to do."

Gary Singletary, who lives in Plant City, Fla., said he had planned to take time off from work to be with his son when he came home. The two enjoy checking out the Grand Prix circuit races.

He also is survived by his mother and a 5-year-old son, who he named Preston, after the grandfather who had dictated the direction of his life.

Army Pvt. Benjamin J. Slaven

Pvt. Slaven

Judy Huenink said her son, Benjamin J. Slaven, was a person who liked to help other people. One recent Christmas, he showed up on the doorstep of a local family and handed over his paycheck to them so they would have money to buy presents for their children.

"He was always giving, and he didn't expect anything back," she said. "He'd give a person his last $20 even if that meant he had to go without something else."

Slaven, 22, of Plymouth, Neb., was killed June 9 when a roadside bomb struck his vehicle in Diwaniyah. He was assigned to Lincoln.

At the time of his deployment, Slaven had earned his GED and was employed helping those with mental retardation at Beatrice State Developmental Center and had previously worked at lawn mower factory Exmark Manufacturing.

Slaven enjoyed video games, scuba diving, motorcycles, working on cars and fishing. When his military career was over he had been thinking of going back to school for underwater welding.

"He would make any mother proud," Huenink said.

He also is survived by his father and stepmother, Bruce and Julie Slaven, and stepfather Nick Huenink.

Marine Sgt. Mark T. Smykowski

Mark T. Smykowski was one of the Mentor Seven -- seven high school friends from Mentor, Ohio, who agreed to join the Marines after high school.

"I'll always remember that no matter what we were doing, Mark could make the best of anything," said another of the seven, Brian Halan. "It really is like a brotherhood with us, and after this horrible tragedy, all we can do is turn to each other."

Smykowski, 23, was killed June 6 by a roadside bomb outside Fallujah. He was a 2000 high school graduate and was assigned to Camp Lejeune.

Smykowski earned the nickname "Jacks" because he always wore a jacket from the Cleveland Lumberjacks, the city's International Hockey League team.

His hockey coach Jack Smeltz said Smykowski stood out because he worked so hard, earning the best-team-player award. "He was cut from a different cloth. He was everything you would want a son to be."

He also is survived by his mother, Diana Ross; father, Bert; and stepfather Ken Ross.

"Mark was the guy I expected to be there for the rest of my life," Halan said. "I don't have a brother, but now I know what it feels like to have a brother because of Mark."

Marine Maj. Michael D. Stover

Michael D. Stover's decision to enlist didn't come as a surprise to his sister, who watched her baby brother grow up craving adventure as much as he did book knowledge.

"His nickname was 'Monkey' as a kid because he was always falling out of trees, breaking his arm, riding bicycles and flying over the handlebars and ending up in hospitals," said Cheryl Meister. "Anything that was exciting or extreme, Michael had to be involved in."

Stover, 43, of Mansfield, Ohio, died June 3 of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound at Taqqadum. A 1980 high school graduate, he was assigned to Yuma and was on his second tour.

Stover was an outdoorsman -- a Boy Scout who wrestled, lifted weights, and rode his bicycle long distances. "He was into a lot of physical activities that challenged him as an individual," said his brother, Edward "Al" Stover.

Stover was released from active duty to attend Ohio State University in September 1986. He received a bachelor of arts degree in journalism in December 1990 and was commissioned a Marine Corps second lieutenant.

He also is survived by his parents, LaVern "Smokey" and Doris Stover.

Army Pfc. Brett L. Tribble

Pfc. Tribble

Jeremy Merriman, the fiance of Brett L. Tribble's mother, called the soldier a "model American" who loved serving.

"He took pride in that and loved it," Merriman said. "His most famous quote was 'It's like going to the gym and getting paid for it.' There was nothing about it that he didn't like," Merriman said. "He might've made a good general one day."

Tribble, 20, of Lake Jackson, Texas, died June 3 of injuries from a roadside bomb in Ramadi. He was based at Baumholder, Germany.

"Brett was born to be a soldier," said Sgt. Paul Powell, his recruiter. "I saw something special in that young man, something you don't always see. He wanted to have a purpose in his life."

After getting his GED diploma, he tried working at local chemical plants, but never had found anything he liked. He enlisted without telling his parents -- and never told his mother he had become a gunner.

"He never once said 'I wish I wasn't here,'" said Tracy Tribble, his mother. "He was ready. He stayed ready. He was a very courageous person."

He also is survived by his 2-year-old son, Blaine; father, Alan; and stepmother, Janet Tribble.

Army Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker

Pfc. Tucker

At a vigil to honor Thomas L. Tucker, dusk fell and people quietly gathered, candles in hand. At 9 p.m., a most un-somber music began playing: AC/DC's "Stiff Upper Lip," bringing hoots from Tucker's young friends.

"He was a determined kid," said Rick Allen, a family friend. "A tough kid."

Tucker, 25, of Madras, Ore., was one of two soldiers whose booby-trapped remains were found June 19, three days after they disappeared following an insurgent attack. They were believed to have been tortured and executed. Both were based at Fort Campbell.

"It didn't matter if it was the Triangle of Death, or whatever they call it. If that's where the action was, Tom wanted to be where the action was," said his father, Wes.

Allen, who hired Tucker as a teenager to work for him at his gas station and convenience store, said there was nothing that Tucker liked more than his dirt bikes and his tools.

He also played the piano and loved music. The 1999 high school graduate had an eye for a good spot to fish, a knack for hunting and a passion for fixing battered pickup trucks.

He also is survived by his mother, Margarett.

Army 2nd Lt. John S. Vaughan

John S. Vaughan had learned to weld and ride horses, to fly planes, to dance and to shoot guns. When Vaughan set his sights on doing something, he got it done, said David Neetz, a garrison chaplain.

"John wouldn't let anything stop him. He would overcome obstacles," said Neetz, who titled his tribute to the soldier "Get In, Sit Down, Shut Up, and Hang On."

Vaughan, 23, of Edwards, Colo., was killed June 7 after coming under small-arms fire in Mosul. He was assigned to Fort Wainwright.

Vaughan loved Jeeps. Once in Utah, Vaughan tried to scale an imposing hill, only to roll his custom Jeep -- nicknamed Hercules -- seven times down the hill. Within weeks, he had rebuilt the vehicle and renamed it Hercules II.

He graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in 2005 with a bachelor's in Business Administration in Aviation. He was always wearing camouflage as a kid, so that his mother would have to wash the same shirt over and over again.

Vaughan once danced a date around a table one night despite the lack of any band or jukebox playing. "John simply made his own music," Neetz said.

He is survived by his mother, Sarah, and father, Robert.

Army Sgt. Jose M. Velez

The night before he shipped out, Jose M. Velez prepared to ask his girlfriend to marry him. It was her birthday, and he wanted to pop the question while at dinner with her son and his two children from previous relationships.

It didn't work out that way. His girlfriend, Naomi de Jesus, had invited her family and his family for a surprise farewell party. Even so, when the entire party sat down to dinner, he leaned over to her and said, "I love you. You're the most important thing to me. I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Velez, 35, of New York City, died June 9 in Kirkuk when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb. He was assigned to Fort Totten.

In his civilian life, he was a tractor-trailer driver. He had e-mailed his fiancee that they'd have a baby together and she was looking for a house for them.

"Jose was the very essence of duty, of love and a symbol of selflessness," said Velez's brother-in-law Julio Guzman. "He was a man with strong convictions who died doing what he felt he needed to do."

He also is survived by his children, Christopher, 11, and Melody, 7.

Marine Lance Cpl. Brandon J. Webb

In his history classes, Kerry Reeder used Brandon J. Webb as an example when discussing the war in Iraq and offered students extra credit to write Webb letters.

With the hectic pace of the end of the semester, Reeder hadn't had time to mail them yet. "I've got 30 letters on my desk right now," he said. "It gives new meaning to those letters."

Webb, 20, of Swartz Creek, Mich., was killed June 20 when a roadside bomb blew apart the SUV he was driving. He was assigned to Camp Pendleton.

Webb grew up in Tempe, Ariz. When his mother moved to Michigan, he followed, but missed friends in Arizona so much that he returned for his senior year, graduating in 2004.

"He was one of those kids that didn't want to be in the limelight, but he liked being around everybody," said Reeder. "He was just a good kid."

Webb and his mother, Ann Christofferson, worked as firefighters in Swartz Creek, Mich., after he graduated.

"At the fire department, we're just a huge family, and Brandon and Ann, they're just a huge part of it," said Fire Lt. Mike Treiger. "He's going to be missed. I'm sure the community is also devastated by the loss of another member."

Marine Pfc. Christopher N. White

Christopher N. White's friends remembered an athletic guy who got into weightlifting in high school, played football and practical jokes and loved hunting and fishing.

"He never met a stranger," said Josh Garcia, who went to high school with White. "Everybody knew Chris White."

White, 23, of Southport, N.C., was killed June 20 when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb south of Baghdad. He was a 2001 high school graduate and was based at Camp Pendleton.

"I remember he had a great sense of humor that everybody liked," said Mark Martin, White's former teacher. "Everybody liked being around him, and I don't remember anyone ever having a bad word to say about him."

White followed his father, who retired from the Army, into military service, but his brother said he dreamed of becoming a Marine. "He talked about it all his life," Mike White said.

He is survived by his parents, William and Galia White.

Mike White said his brother had plans to marry his girlfriend once he returned home. "He was going to get married the day he came back," Mike White said. "He only had a month and half left."

Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas J. Whyte

Nicholas J. Whyte wanted to serve in the armed forces ever since he was a boy.

"There was a point when he was 4 years old. I asked him what he wanted to be, and he said 'a soldier,'" recalled his father, Andre Whyte.

Whyte, 21, of New York City, was killed June 21 by a sniper in Ramadi. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune and was on his second tour.

As a top student and star swimmer, Whyte had earned numerous scholarships that had paid his way to elite boarding schools. His family had expected him to attend Yale or Harvard.

"He was very smart, very conscientious. He was the kind of child any parent would be proud of," said his father.

Father and son last spoke when Nicholas called from Iraq to wish him a happy Father's Day. The younger man promised to be back in time for his father's birthday in September.

He also is survived by his mother, Annette.

On his Internet profile on MySpace.com, he reported, "I'm from Brooklyn, New York, born and raised, and currently deployed as a USMC Infantryman to Ramadi, Iraq. Go Figure." His goal for the year was "Stay alive and spread much love when I get back."

Marine Staff Sgt. Benjamin D. Williams

Benjamin D. Williams -- or "Bubba" -- made it very clear to his family that being a soldier was what he was born to do.

"Bubba was a Marine from the time he was 6 years old," said his mother, Linda Breaux. "I don't ever remember him having the idea of doing anything other than being in the military."

Williams, 30, of Orange, Texas, was killed June 20 while conducting combat operations in Anbar province. He was assigned to Camp Pendleton and was on his third tour.

The 1994 high school graduate was football star, playing on offense and defense in his junior and senior years, and made the all-district football team. He also was on the sprint relay team that broke the school's record.

"My brother loved in this order: family, the Marines and food," said his sister, Jennifer Alderman. "Chicken fricassee was the only thing that he said he had to have on his time home."

He also is survived by his stepmother, Joan, and father David.

"He was a well-mannered young man. He was quiet, but if you wanted something done, he was quick to volunteer to help with anything," said Linda Warner, Williams' former assistant principal.

Marine Lance Cpl. Brent B. Zoucha

Cpl. Zoucha

Throughout high school, Brent B. Zoucha was a local hero because of his success as an athlete, excelling in basketball and track.

"He was a hard worker and a quiet leader," said his former basketball coach Cameron Hudson. "His leadership was by example through his competitiveness and effort on the court."

Zoucha, 19, of Merrick, Neb., died June 9 when the Humvee he was riding in hit a land mine. He was a 2005 high school graduate and was assigned to Twentynine Palms.

Brent led his basketball team to a 17-5 record his senior year when he averaged 13.6 points per game and 10.7 rebounds. He was selected to play in the Columbus Telegram/Central Community College All-Star basketball game in 2005.

He also helped his school to a third place track and field showing in Class D in 2005 by taking second in both the high jump and the 400 meter relay. In 2004, he tied for third in the high jump and was second in the 400 meter relay.

Family friend David Beck described the Zoucha family as fiercely competitive, "Second place just wasn't an option. I believe this drive to succeed is what led him to the Marines."

He is survived by his mother, Rita.